Dibigible automobile-headlight



E. EGGIMANN.: y yDIRIGH- ILE AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT. ARRLICATION FILEDI`UNE28, 1918.

l ,$05,785. Patented June 3, 1919.

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gmc/Moy E. EGGxMANN DIRIGBE AUTOIVIOBILEv HEADUGHT.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE Z8, 19H3.

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YllilllEtNllilSL EGGIMANN, 0F ARGYLE, WISCONSIN.

' DIRIGIBLE AUTOMOBYLE-HEADLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

Application led June 28, 19718. Serial No. 242,394.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERNEST EGeiMANN, a citizen of Switzerland, residingat Argyle, in the county of Lafayette and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Dirigible Automobile-Headlights, of which the following is a speciiication. Y Y Y Thisinvention relates to headlights for automobiles, and more particularlyvto dirigible headlights, the object thereof being to mount theheadlights of anV automobile in a novel manner'and to cause the same toturn with the turning of the front Vor steering wheels, so as to directthe light rays from the headlights in the direction of travel'of the carwhen turning. Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a turningmechanism for headlights as described, which comprises a'novelconstruction and arrangement of parts adaptedV to prevent thetransmission of shocks and vibrations to the headlights or lamps,especially when traveling over uneven roa surfaces, and to centralizeVthe position of the lamps, the device being adaptable with but fewmodifications to various types of cars.

Vith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the Vinvention comprises the various novelfeatures of construction and arrangement of Y parts which will be morefully described herein and set forth with particularity in the claimsVappended hereto.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisapplication, in which like referenceY characters indicate thecorresponding lparts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1`isa front elevationV of an automobile equipped with my improveddirigible headlight mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the centralizing means applied to thefront axle and connected with the steering rod,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1looking outwardly,

Fig. 4t is an enlarged detail vertical sectional vievv showing themounting for one of the headlights,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view showing theconnection with the front axle, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4looking downwardly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein I have illustrated theapplication of my improved dirigible headlight mechanism, 10 designatesthe usual hood and radiator of an automobile, 11 the front axle, 12 thefront or steering wheels having the usual steering knuckles 13, and rod14 connectin the samcto cause-simultaneous actuation o thesteeringwheels. The fenders are indicated by the numeral 15 and thelamps by the numeral 16, these being the usual form of headlights whichare supported in fixed brackets in various ways upon different types ofmotor vehicles or automobiles.

I have especially Villustrated the application of the Vdevice to anOverland car, but desire to have it understood that the same is capableof application to other types of cars, and that this will require butslight modification to the general arrangement of parts as will besetforth in detail. In lieu of the ordinary lamp support or bracket carriedupon the fenders or mud guards 15 inwardly of the portions arranged overthe tires, I provide brackets 17 said brackets having side portions 18connected to the mud ouards and provided with spaced upper and owerportions 19 receiving the lamp standards 20 therethrough, the lampsstandards beingV provided with enlargements 21 to support the lamps forturning movement.

The lower ends of the standards 20 are provided with enlargements 22having sockets therein receiving the reduced upper ends of therectangular sections 23, Va coupling being effected through the mediumof a pin V24. The lower portion of the section 23 is reduced andreceivedV within a holder 25 having opposed vertical slots 26 receivingtherein a guiding and retaining meansin the form of a cross pin 27,Vcarried by the reduced portion of the section 23. The holder 25constitutes the lowerV section of the standard and is arranged in andsupported upon a two part clamp 28 secured to the axle 11, said clamphaving a pair of jaws engaging the axle as shown at 29 and beingconnected as shown at 30, each clamp having a forwardly extendingapertured arm 31 producing a support for the standard 32 adapted toextend through the arm support 31 so as to turnably carry the standardupon the shoulders thus provided. The lower extremity is threaded andalso detachably coupled through themedium of a pin or the like 33 withthe upturned forward..V

end of an arm 34 which extends rearwardly and inwardly for connection tothe steering rod 14 through the mdiiin o'f a 3'5, the forward end of thearm,3et atitsupturned portion, being socketed to receive the reducedlportion of` the holder 25.

The' clamps" 35 l(ire5 provided at spaced tances from the ends of thesteering rod 14 to receive the arms 34 of the lamps, and said clampscomprise'upp'er and lower plates 36 connected as shown at 37, the upperportion being rigid and the lower lportion` being loose or swiveled",las shown at 38 and pro# vided with an 'elongated or o'voidal 39receiving in each, one of the arms 34,' so' that the latter will beloose with respect to itsv connection with the steering rod 14, therebyallowii'ig sufficient play to' avoid transmission of shocks and;vibrations to the lamps from the steering mechanism, while still causingthe turning of the lampsl when the tnrning' or steering mechanism isoper` ated to turn the front or steering wheels,

for directigthe vehicle in a desired co'se.

In this manner, the lamps will not receive every jerk of thevheels',bii`t will be turned when` the wheels' have been turned beyonda' limited degree, thereby direotin light `rays upon the roadway infront of te car when turning around sharpv 'corners or turns.,y However,in order to` centraline the lamps, so'v as to hold them forwardlydirected, a' retrattile Ac oil yspring 40 has its terminals connected tothe arms 3 4 and additional springs 4l are 'coi'infe'cted to said armsand to the rearwardly projecting arms of the .steering knuckles 13; Bythis' means, the lamps will be prevented from wabbling or turning to oneside accidentally' owing to; the loose connection withl the steeringrod, already described,` Also', the vertically adjustable connectionbetween tlie section 23a1`id the holder 25, will permitY the device tobe extended to acconnnodate theup and down movements of the axle, withrespect to the body, in absorbing the shocks and vibrations through themedium of the usual springs;

opening nec-ting thev bracket arms From the foregoing description takenin connectionwith the accompanying drawings, i't is thgilit that a clearand comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation andadvantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown anddescribed the device` as Yembodying a specific structure', I desire'that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure,as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as" new, and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent of the United States, is: l

l. Incombin'ation: with a vehicle including a front aile, wheelsconnected therewith,

\ steering arms connected with the wheels and a rod connecting the'arms, headlight supporting brackets -pivotally supported upon thevehicle, laterally directed crank arms carried by the brackets, meansloosely con: ne'c'lin'g' the varnis `with the rod whereby the latter ispermitted limited movement with relation to the arms, and spring meansconwith the steering arms to yiel'dably takenpV the relative movementbetween'the armszfy Y 2; In combinationV with a vehicle including anaxle, wheelsv connected therewith,

steering arms connected with the wheels and a rod connecting the arms,headlight brackets pivotally supported upon the' vehicle,l laterallydirected crank arms connected with the brackets, brackets secured to therod, swivelly mounted loops, ,depending from the rod carried bracketshaving horizontally elongated openings therein receiving' thebracket*arms` and permitting limited movement of the' latter withrelation to the rod, and spring means connecting the bracket arms withthe steering arms to yieldably take up the' relative' movement betweenthe arms. ,A Y In testimony whereof, I aliiX my signature hereto.l f YERNEST EGGIMANN.

Copies o`f this patent inay be obtained for five' cents each,v byaddressing the Commissioner of raten-ts,

Washington, '1). G1

